Community of Christ - Canadian National Conference

Canadian National Conference - Mission Initiatives

Invite People to Christ

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Church signs – convey the message and mix it up a bit, be original, be creative, be funny, be inviting
Use one annual mailing to all members, encourage participation, caring and sharing. Do not hesitate to ask for help: teaching, cleaning, looking after plants, sharing music, supporting congregation initiatives etc.
Create an email list that can be used to send weekly bulletins, mission center and World Church news. Share links to significant events and news. Send out new inspired documents approved by World Conference (i.e. send D&C 164 as an attachment) and always invite to next event.
Develop a visitation program and central reporting so that all who wish to be visited are visited. Encourage active members to send cards and/or telephone people, just to see how they are doing and let them know they are being remembered. Encourage members to visit and invite people to share.
Organize congregational events that involve the local community. Events such as a parking lot food bank, winter coat drive, or support other community programs such as having a bazaar in connection with the Salvation Army Kettle at Christmas time etc. Connect with outside agencies and invite to help.
Hold an open house for the community and invite several local services to set up a table of information. Give a church tour, showcase the church and the baptismal font, giving local history as well as global. Share what is happening around the world in the Community of Christ.
Develop a business card of contacts for mental health services, blood donor clinic, local government info, animal care, food banks, health clinics (flu shots), community mobility services, and oh yes, church worship times, contact info and inviting information.
Seek out secondary students who need community service projects to help them fulfill their requirements. Lawn care, music, helping at church events, …
In general conversation and when meeting with people, why not invite them to a church activity?

There are many ways to invite people to Christ. Many times Christ just went and invited himself, at the well, to Mary Magdalene, to each Disciple, to you and to me.

Abolish Poverty, End Suffering

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The National Conference goal is to gather 2012 lbs of food collectively. All local collections will be weighed and taken to local food banks or another needy non-profit agency. (This calculates to approximately 2 lbs per attendee).
Summer time creates a hot dry environment for all homeless people. Water bottle collection for handing out to those folks helps keep them drinking good water. Support local agencies.
Scheduling a community meal creates an environment where people can meet new friends, listen to music and fill their stomachs. Can be a bag lunch or sit down roast beef dinner, etc.
Everyone likes to party. Create a kids day on the yard, face painting, craft making, sing song, puppet show etc.
Run a donation activity for children’s shoes and socks. Then follow-up with shoe and sock loonie sale. Connect with local agencies.
Offer lessons (mentoring program) on money planning or grocery shopping management for those who use the food bank, used clothing stores etc. Post the time, date and place, such as a room or a space at the food bank. This might be a pre-requisite to access food this week. Work with the local agencies.
Hold knitting, sewing classes, scarves, socks, mittens etc. and fund resources for food bank recipients.
Help folks quit smoking, seek free help from professionals. Save their money and their health.
Share address and phone number information about available free services: mental health clinics, flu clinics, dental clinics and other organizations providing food, shelter or clothing.
Hold a Vacation Bible School, (no charge or free will offering) provide lots of children activities, Doesn’t have to be a week long, try one day or every Thursday in July etc. A large part of personal suffering and poverty could be a result of having no friends. Become a friend and someone who cares. This may save a life.
Provide bikes for kids. Hold a free bicycle repair and maintenance clinic. Hold a free skate board repair and maintenance clinic. Hand out a coupon to kids on bikes or skate boards for service at a local repair shop.
Share a friend. Create a “Dolls for Kids” program. Have a fun day to give dolls away, provide new doll clothes, how to make a blanket, or doll clothes. How to clean, wash clothes etc.

There are many ways to abolish poverty and end suffering; By helping people help themselves; To create new friends and to show people that others care; By promoting self-worth and Christ-like lives.

Develop Disciples To Serve

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We must be engaged in empowering and motivating all members with the same influence and desire to serve as when we all came out from the waters of baptism.
Pastors everywhere need to be kept informed of Mission Centre and World Church programs and current initiatives. This includes Camping Commission objectives, Directors and Leadership Programs, Co-Mission Pastor Initiatives, Dialogue Participation Discernment Groups, Youth Programs (Spec & IYF), Graceland University, WorldService Corps,and Volunteer Ministries, just to name a few.
The National Conference Team encourages members to use a business card that asks the question, “How Can I Help?”, with pertinent information on it including local church address, website links, a name, the church telephone number with someone appointed to check messages and delegate resulting follow-up.
Develop mentoring programs where older youth could help younger ones with homework etc
Develop programs that provide a community service project approved for local Secondary Students.
Provide training for all members. Utilize the Temple School program and other church initiatives to keep people informed but in action and motivated.
Hold discussion groups and information meetings over coffee (light lunch) after church about church topics, such as: What is CPI? Who are Jack & Jenn? What are the 5 Mission Initiatives? What are the questions and dialogue sessions leading up to National Conference? How far can we take technology (minding costs) to enhance our worship services and time together? What are the greatest needs right now, right here?
Involve members into short and long term congregational goals.
Plan activity around the next community building maintenance need. (ie raking, window washing, baking)
Organize a choir or play/reading club and discover the talents of members.
Organize a greeting team and training. Hospitality goes along way when welcoming people into church.
Commit to a neighbouring senior home to go in and organize an activity.

There are many ways to develop Disciples to Serve.

Pursue Peace On Earth

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Community of Christ Canadian Peace Award

We are looking for excellent examples of local people bringing peace to neighbourhoods and their communities through celebration, reconciliation and collaboration.

Examples might be:

Mentoring
Faith-based community support
Volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to reducing violence in their neighbourhoods
An individual who has shown exceptional courage in keeping the Peace
Community safety / crime reduction initiative.
An individual working across diverse groups to bring about positive changes
People actively building bridges between young people, communities, generations, faiths or cultures.
A congregation actively involved in engaging and connecting local communities, promoting Peace and Justice, uniting others to be peacemakers for the good of all.

To put forward your nominations please complete this application form and submit to the following:

The Canadian National Conference Team
c/o Operations Manager
Tim J. Stanlick
390 Speedvale Ave E
Guelph Ontario
N1E 1N5

Rules of Eligibility

Closing Date for ALL entries is April 30, 2012.
Nominees may be Canadian members or friends of the Community of Christ.
Additional information and supporting evidence cannot be returned.
The awards will be presented during the Canadian National Conference, June 16, 2012.
Self nominations will not be accepted.
Only award recipients and nominators will be notified in advance.

“We are poised to restore Christ’s covenant of peace, even the Zion of our hopes. The hope of Zion will become reality when we live Christ’s peace and generously share his peace with others.”

Taken from the Community of Christ, “Mission Initiatives” brochure.

Experience Congregations In Mission

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Create a "tell our story" board for sharing pictures, art, stories, etc. for all to see.
Show videos of the Church in action. (Spectacular, First Presidency sermons, World Service Corp videos, Graceland University in action, local congregational activities)
Share the “Action Calendar”, upcoming Congregational activities, CEM activities, Conference activities.
Share information of other groups in action.
Live out the experience of the Great Commission
Utilize other methods of sharing. (e.g. Church website)
Enhance use of technology in worship to share audio and video.
Block off the time to let others share – children, youth, seniors, all with a gift
Create and plan community service events. (eg helping at food bank, litter picking, gardening projects)
Video record worship services with permission to share with shut ins and use to allow presenters to review and critique them.
Become a Congregation that is living out the expression of Jesus. Share compassionate ministries, justice and peace. (follow-up with How Can I Help? cards)
Be noticed by your Community in your living out the mission of Jesus.
Create mission goals and do what matters most for the journey ahead.

Share your Congregational Christ mission experiences for the benefit of others…